Ideas for providing charging power at the field?  
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All Forums >> Electric Aircraft Universe >> E-Flight Power Sources >> Ideas for providing charging power at the field?
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Ideas for providing charging power at the field? - 6/23/2008 6:24:41 PM   
vicarh



Posts: 179
Joined: 3/10/2004
From: South Miami, FL, USA
Status: offline 		Hello all,

My flying field (AMPS) is in a remote area west of Miami where the posibility of bringing power to the field is remote at best. We have been taking about this for a long time but have never actually thought of doing something until now. The idea is to provide electrical power for changing batteries. Some of our members are sugesting the idea of a propane powered generator connected to marine deep cycle batteries via an inverter. Another idea is to have solar power cells charge the batteries. Some of our members are starting to move into the electric giant scale; we have already seen a 37 lbs electric plane at the field.

Do you know of a club that has dealt with this issue? Can you relate the solutions? Ideas and suggestions are greatfully accepted!

Thanks,

< Message edited by vicarh -- 6/23/2008 7:28:10 PM >

_____________________________

Vicar
Aero modelers of Perrine (AMPS) www.amps-rc.com
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RE: Ideas for providing charging power at the field? - 6/23/2008 10:48:41 PM   
PatternPilot



Posts: 529
Joined: 11/17/2002
From: Knoxville, TN, USA
Status: offline 		All thise options you have mention are good, but there is up keep on them.. I would think the best is a generator to some AC outlets or even DC charging station if there is DC from the generator.. no replacment cost of batteries down the road. I would still look into bring public power into the site, we are looking at one of our sites, and going to do alot of the work ourself and cost would be about $ 600.00.

scott
www.rcfoamy.com

(in reply to vicarh)
       Post #: 2

RE: Ideas for providing charging power at the field? - 6/25/2008 4:23:17 PM   
vicarh



Posts: 179
Joined: 3/10/2004
From: South Miami, FL, USA
Status: offline 		Scott,

The problem is that our field is open all the time and keeping a generator running constantly is not a viable alternative. As to bringing power from the outside, first, we are in State owned property and as you might imagine permitting is going to be a LONG ROAD. Second, even if we could get the permits, the closest transformer is over a mile away. In addition, there is a section where the wires will have to go underground. We have asked a member who is a sub-contractor for the local power company to give us an idea of cost and it is in the $25,000 plus range, with his "discount" to the club.

The use of the heavy-duty marine batteries seems to be the most "maintenance-free" alternative as these are very sturdy. By using a propane powered generator we can (i've been told) have the generator kick-in when ever the batteries go down to a certain level or on a scheduled basis. Depending on use, we could have several batteries connected in parallel which should maintain an acceptable level of power for a reasonable amount of time. The other power source we are looking at is solar cells but my sources tell me that they are a magnet for thiefs so we need to come up with a very sophisticated hidding place.

I am looking to see if other clubs have done anything in this area and what their experiences have been. I do not really want to reinvent the battery (LOL).

< Message edited by vicarh -- 6/25/2008 4:46:21 PM >

_____________________________

Vicar
Aero modelers of Perrine (AMPS) www.amps-rc.com

(in reply to PatternPilot)
       Post #: 3

RE: Ideas for providing charging power at the field? - 6/25/2008 4:53:21 PM   
Red Scholefield



Posts: 4981
Joined: 12/8/2001
From: Newberry, FL, USA
Status: online 		A local club, OWLS in N. Central FL, have done it.
See posting http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_7659215/anchors_7659215/mpage_1/key_/anchor/tm.htm#7659215

_____________________________

Red S.
AMA 951 Leader Member

(in reply to vicarh)
       Post #: 4

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